You’re Buying The Wrong Beef—These 7 Cheap Beef Cuts Give You More Flavor For Less Money

Yes—you can eat better beef meals AND save money when you shop smart and cook smart with our recipes

In July 2025, beef prices in the U.S. hit an all-time high: ground beef prices rose to $6.34 per pound, and steaks averaged $11.88 per pound. Cattle herds have been shrinking since 1951, and as demand for beef remains steady, market watchers expect beef prices to continue rising.

What’s a red-blooded American beef lover to do? Buy cheap beef cuts! The good news is that some of the least expensive cuts of beef are also the most flavorful. That’s because these cuts come from the hardest-working muscles on the animal—the shoulders, chest, hips, and legs. Retail cuts from these areas—like chuck steak and bottom round—are tougher and require slow cooking like slow-roasting, smoking, braising, and stewing to become tender. Because of that, they tend to cost less per pound than quicker-cooking steaks from the loin or rib. Learn more about beef cuts here.

Smart cooks know their way around the cheap beef cuts at the butcher case. And we’ve got loads of fantastic recipes using cheaper cuts of beef in amazing dishes your whole family will love. Explore the recipes and feed your family for less money today!

Cheap Beef Cuts At A Glance

Here’s a quick look so you can start buying inexpensive cuts of beef and saving money on family meals tonight.

Chuck Steak / Chuck Roast

From the shoulder. Flavorful, marbled, great for roasting slow or fast with or without smoke. Chuck steak is shown in the photo here. Try Meathead’s Grilled Chuck Steak with Red Wine Marinade. The larger roast is especially good for slicing for brisket vibes, as in Clint’s Slow-Smoked Chuck Roast.

Beef Shank

From the leg. Very tough, but excellent for slow smoking, especially in dishes like “Big Poppa Sterling Ball’s recipe for Thor’s Hammer Beef Shank Tacos (page 000).

Brisket (flat or point)

From the chest. Tough as nails but gets tender with low-and-slow smoking and/or braising. The brisket flat is shown in the photo (click here to read more about brisket cuts). Lots of possibilities for recipes. Feast on Authentic Texas-Style Smoke Brisket, Brisket Burnt Ends, or try your hand at making your own Pastrami for a New York-Style Reuben Sandwich.

Short Ribs

From the plate. Can be cheaper than back ribs. Best when braised or smoked. Try Texas-Style Smoked Beef Ribs, Korean-Style BBQ Short Ribs (Galbi), or Provencal smoked and Braised Beef Short Ribs, 

Flank Steak

From the flank. Leaner, fibrous, and great grilled, then sliced thin. Try Simple Grilled Flank Steak, Italian Caprese Flank Steak Spirals, or Asian-Style Sous-Vide Que Flank Steak Tacos.

Round (Top Round, Bottom Round, Eye of Round, Rump Roast)

From the rear leg. Lean and inexpensive, though less tender—good for roasts, deli-style slicing, and roast beef sandwiches. That’s bottom round in the photo, which tends to be tougher and more flavorful than top round. Have a taste of a Classic Chicago Italian Beef Sandwich, the kind made famous in Hulu’s TV series, The Bear. Or grab a kaiser roll packed with Baltimore Pit Roast Beef. Clint’s recipe for Mouthwateringly Tender Beef Bottom Round Roast also gets a boost from the sous-vide que method. Or try Meathead’s classic Grilled London Broil made from top round.

Ground Beef

Good ol’ ground chuck is often the most affordable way to buy beef. Go for higher-fat blends (70/30 or 80/20) for the most flavor. Enjoy in Griddled Meatball Sliders from the Flat Top King; Grilled Meatloaf from Meathead himself; a classic Beef Chili recipe from former first lady, Lady Bird Johnson; Savory Classic Salisbury Steak with Mushrooms; or an easy appetizer of MOINK Balls. Of course, burgers are the go-to. We’ve got dozens of hamburger recipes to choose from here.

There’s no reason to give up beef when prices are high! Just shop smart, buy cheap beef cuts, and use our creative recipes to keep those great-tasting family meals flowing on your table.